Tag Archives: West Sacramento

Authorities can call your cell phone in emergency

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FROM THE NEWS-LEDGER — DEC 28, 2011 —

By Steve MarschkeNews-Ledger Editor

If you have a telephone landline in West Sacramento, you’re probably already in the city’s emergency calling program. It’s part of a regional system that lets authorities reach you with a recorded message in case of a major emergency.

But those of you with cell phones can register those numbers with the system as well.

The system “is intended to be used for large scale phone calling in the event of a disaster like a flood, fire or so forth,” said Sergeant Nathan Steele of the West Sacramento Police Department. “Generally speaking, most land lines in the city have been entered.”

[adrotate group=”9”] The system can target neighborhoods, and has been used to warn residents of a fleeing felon on the loose nearby, or to get the word out when an “at risk” person has gone missing. It could also be used to help get the word out if an evacuation is needed, automatically dialing homeowners in an affected area.

You can match your cell phone number to your address for the system by going online this link at the West Sacramento Police Department: click here.

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McGowan to run again

Michael McGowan: Representative of West Sacramento and Clarksburg on the Yolo County Board of Supervisors (courtesy photo)

FROM THE NEWS-LEDGER — DEC 21, 2011 —

By Steve MarschkeNews-Ledger Editor

West Sacramento’s Mike McGowan announced this month he will run to defend the Yolo Board of Supervisors seat he has held since 1993. He has also just been named president of the California State Association of Counties – which is now involved in serious negotiations with the administration of Governor Jerry Brown as Brown tries to tackle state debt.

[adrotate group=”9″] “The primary issue now is ‘realignment’ and reform, and what might happen if the planned $6 billion (in new state cuts) are triggered,” said McGowan. “Counties are really an extension of the state, and we are the folks who implement a whole lot of federal and state programs – like welfare, food stamps, indigent health. In a city, the functions are primarily police, fire and public works, sewer, water and garbage. . . We (counties) have to do that in our unincorporated areas, but we have to provide state services as well.”

The governor proposes to shift more duties from the state to the counties, and the struggle is over making sure that enough revenue comes along with it.

‘Realignment’ is a fancy word for shifting more work to the counties,” said McGowan. “We want to make sure the money will be there, too.”

McGowan said he thinks that local agencies can serve their communities better on a lot of fronts than the state, so in principal, “realignment” could work well.

“I think it depends on the funding,” he said. “I believe locals are really better at identifying a problem, because we live in it, we’re here.”

And how’s Yolo County doing on the whole?

McGowan said he and his fellow board members, fortunately, have shared a common vision for development. As a former West Sacramento mayor (the city’s first, actually) McGowan saw growth as the city’s friend. It’s different for the county.

[adrotate group=”10″] “There’s a strong buy-in from the average citizen in Yolo of what we’re trying to do here,” he told the News-Ledger. “One of the best things about Yolo County is what hasn’t changed. We haven’t developed much at all in the unincorporated area, and have stayed true to the notion that development should occur in the cities. When you leave any city limit in Yolo County, you are immediately in the country. There’s no blur.”

After almost 20 years on the board, McGowan sees himself as something of the “grayback gorilla,” he said. He’s been involved in health administration, Native American casino issues, water rights from Conaway Ranch, and more.

“It is busy. I love it.”

To comment on this article, please visit the same article at our sister website, www.WestSac.com.

Support local journalism, and see all our articles every week! Subscribe to the News-Ledger. It’s only $20 per year within West Sacramento.

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Copyright News-Ledger 2011

OPINION: whether to answer ‘just a few questions’

NEWS-LEDGER — DEC 21, 2011

EDITORIAL

The local school board has approved a contract with a political consultant to explore a new school bond or parcel tax in West Sacramento. The measure would seek to raise funds to build a performing arts center at the new high school, and to start a new technical education center for some of the district’s non college-going students.

A new ballot measure would probably also fund other projects around the district – partly out of widespread need for things such as facility repair, and partly out of a political strategy to get as many community members as possible to “buy in” to a new bond measure. Typically, in a new bond measure, there’s a little something for everybody – something for the high school in Southport, and something for parents of a kid in the second grade in Broderick.

[adrotate group=”7″] WUSD’s consultant will conduct interviews to try to determine community concerns and also to explore the campaign politics likely to surround a ballot measure for November, 2012.

This news is a reminder about political surveys and interviews in general: things are often not what they seem when someone is interviewing you for the political issue or campaign of the day. And, merely by participating, you may end up accidentally helping a political effort you oppose.

Often, when a survey company calls you, you aren’t told exactly who they’re working for. But even when you are told (as you presumably will be if you’re picked for one of these WUSD school bond interviews), your answers will probably be used in ways you don’t foresee.

A few comments about campaign surveys in general:

Some surveys are known as “push polls” – under the guise of asking for your opinion, the surveyor is asking you carefully crafted questions designed to push you in the direction they want you to go: “Would you support Measure Q if you knew it would cost this city over 4,500 jobs?”

Well, you may have been in favor of Measure Q before you got that phone call. But now, they have you wondering. There may be no factual basis at all to believe that Q would cost anybody a job – but now, you’ve got that job-killing idea stuck in your head.

Political surveys can also be designed to figure out how to get a campaign around your defenses, and the defenses of voters with like minds to yours. By answering questions from a survey commissioned by one of these people, you may help them figure out how to better craft their campaign – and defeat your own point of view.

So be careful when you pick up the phone and agree to answer “just a few questions.”

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When a discount liquor store applied for a permit to take over the former Blockbuster Video site at West Capitol Avenue and Jefferson Boulevard, the News-Ledger objected.

West Capitol has a troubled reputation already for crime, drugs and alcohol. There are plenty of other liquor-vendors on the same block. And the site was just too prominent, facing one of the city’s busiest intersections and viewed by just about everybody heading to the nearby city hall, community center and city college campus.

The city planning commission evidently had some of the same concerns, giving the liquor store a thumbs-down.

Instead, a Chase bank branch has just opened at the location, boasting a spiffy and attractive new façade. Now, Chase is one of those American mega-banks whose mortgage lending practices helped create the economy we’re in today.

That begs the question: would that streetcorner’s image have been better off with the liquor store?

To comment on this editorial, please visit the identical article at our sister website, www.WestSac.com.

Copyright News-Ledger 2011

New K9 training facility open

FROM THE NEWS-LEDGER — DEC 14, 2011 —

Dogs practice climbing over & around obstacles — and taking on the ‘bad guys’ —

On command, the police dog goes after handler Nick Barreiro, who is wearing protective clothing. The officer will shortly be looking for a police dog of his own, as he is scheduled to become a K9 team member in 2012. (Photo by ERIC HARDING, www.ebharding.com)

[adrotate group=”12″] By Steve MarschkeNews-Ledger Editor

Police dog teams from the region celebrated the opening of a new West Sacramento K9 agility training course on Nov. 30 with a demonstration of their dogs’ skills.

The dog training park is at a fenced, grassy facility on Oak Street, near Home Depot. And it features refurbished equipment largely thanks to the Wyotech auto repair trade school in town, which turned the needed metalwork into something of a class project.

Officer Roger Kinney – partner of “Zar,” the Dutch shepherd – said the whole project cost upward of $20,000, and took a lot longer than he expected.

“There are 14 pieces of equipment, including ladder-climb, wall jumps, a teeter-totter to test balance, culverts to walk through, barrels to jump over – these are things similar to what these dogs may encounter on the street,” said Kinney. “We put down 6,000 square feet of sod, and it’s fenced, with cameras around. I started this in October of 2010 and thought it would take two months to do, but it took 13 months.”

FAR LEFT: Zar bounds off a barrel on the new agility training course for K9s in West Sacramento (Photo by ERIC HARDING, www.ebharding.com)

The property belongs to the city (part of a public works operation) and it used to be a grassy field with old K9 training equipment on it. The land was graded and sodded, with sprinklers and Trex decking material added where needed. The old equipment was disassembled, rebuilt, sandblasted and powdercoated.

“We didn’t skimp on anything,” said Kinney. “It’s the nicest agility course in the whole area. When I’m retired as a dog handler, it will still be going strong.”

Who will maintain the training facility?

“The field is maintained by the Department of Probation – people arrested for drunk driving and so forth come out once every couple of weeks and mow it and keep it nice.”

[adrotate group=”9″] Kinney and Zar are one of two K9 teams currently on duty in West Sacramento. The other team is made up of Officer Dave Stallions and “Champ” – who are scheduled to cycle out of K9 duty to be replaced by Officer Nick Ferrero and a dog yet to be selected.

“We go to any calls of violence, whenever a K9 is on duty,” explained Kinney. “Certainly, we go to any call with a weapon involved. The dogs can locate somebody who is hiding, and they can run very fast if the suspect decides to flee that way. I live in West Sacramento, so if something happens (when I’m off-duty) I can usually be anywhere in the city with Zar in around ten minutes.”

“When a suspect is hiding, we make an announcement when we show up,” added Kinney. “We’ll say ‘Police K9 is here – come out now or get bit.’ Only about five to ten percent of the people decide to get bit by a dog. Fully 90 or 95 percent that are hiding will come out and surrender.”

Zar – who happens to be a mild-mannered socialite when not chasing a bad guy – his trained for other duties, as well.

“Are you sure he’s a police dog?” is a question Officer Kinney is used to hearing, after Zar starts schmoozing with the public. Here he gets some face time with a young student at Bridgeway Island Elementary School. Unlike some K9s, Zar doesn’t need a muzzle to mingle. (photo by Ruth Pagano, West Sacramento Police Department)

Zar will search houses and cars to find drugs,” added Kinney. “He can also locate evidence – if somebody tosses a gun in the bushes, he can look for that.”

It was apparent watching work at the demonstration on Nov. 30 that Zar was having fun, going after a “suspect” in a padded suit with joy, a wagging tail, and obvious relish.

“It is absolutely a game to them,” said Kinney. “But Zar does know the difference between work and play. I would say he just gets more excited when it’s real. Once, he had a guy beat him really bad with a stick, opening a wound on his head. I had to take him to the vet – but Zar’s tail was still wagging, as if to say, ‘I’m OK!’”

K9 exercises at the new training field in West Sacramento (photo by Eric Harding)

Support local journalism, and see all our articles every week! Subscribe to the News-Ledger. It’s only $20 per year within West Sacramento.

You can even try it for free for two months if you live in West Sacramento. Just send your name and mailing address to freetrial@news-ledger.com (offer open to new subscribers in West Sacramento ZIP codes 95691 & 95605).

Copyright News-Ledger 2011

LOCALS IN UNIFORM: Redlich & Hall

[adrotate group=”10″] FROM THE NEWS-LEDGER — DEC 21, 2011 —

Air Force Airman Marti R. Redlich graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Redlich earned distinction as an honor graduate.
She is the daughter of Kelly and Martin Redlich of West Sacramento.
She is a 2003 graduate of River City High School.

During the eight-week program, Hall completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.

Hall is a 2009 graduate of River City Senior High.

[adrotate group=”9″] Support local journalism, and see all our articles every week! Subscribe to the News-Ledger. It’s only $20 per year within West Sacramento.

You can even try it for free for two months if you live in West Sacramento. Just send your name and mailing address to freetrial@news-ledger.com (offer open to new subscribers in West Sacramento ZIP codes 95691 & 95605).

Copyright News-Ledger 2011

Riders bearing gifts: West Sac horse club makes a toy run

West Sacramento Trail Riders Association riders line up in front of Station 45’s ladder truck in Southport (photo courtesy of W.S. Fire Department)

[adrotate group=”7″] FROM THE NEWS-LEDGER — DEC 21, 2011 —

About 25 riders on horseback from the West Sacramento Trail Riders Association trekked to Fire Station 45 on Lake Washington Boulevard on Dec. 11 bearing gifts.

Altogether, about 30 people affiliated with the horsemen’s club visited the station for hot chocolate and coffee. They brought along dozens of toys for a firefighters’ toy drive, earmarked for local kids whose Christmas needs a little bit of brightening.

“Station 45 served hot coffee and chocolate to the riders, and our horses were decorated for the holidays,” reported Charyl Silva, a local chiropractor and equestrienne.
How many toys did the group contribute?

“Target gave us 10 percent off our purchases and our club spent $300,” said Silva. “Individual riders also spent their own money. Altogether, it was dozens of toys.”

The toy ride is an annual holiday tradition for the group, which is based out of Southport.

Support local journalism, and see all our articles every week! Subscribe to the News-Ledger. It’s only $20 per year within West Sacramento.

You can even try it for free for two months if you live in West Sacramento. Just send your name and mailing address to freetrial@news-ledger.com (offer open to new subscribers in West Sacramento ZIP codes 95691 & 95605).

Copyright News-Ledger 2011

Lady Raiders defeat Monterey Trails

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Katie King, a junior playing for River City’s varsity team, goes up for the shot, Katie was one of the high scorers with 14 points. Photo by DE’ONNA JACK

[adrotate group=”7″] FROM THE NEWS-LEDGER — DEC 21, 2011 —

On December 13, the River City High School girls basketball team hosted Monterey Trails. Only j.v. and varsity squads played, so the RCHS freshmen had the night off. Both RCHS Teams were victorious. The final score in the junior varsity game was 55-30 in favor of the Raiders, and the RCHS varsity won 61-45. Raider girls basketball will be back home again on January 4, 2012 when the team hosts Woodland.

Makaila Robinson, a sophomore in action for the JV squad Photo by DE’ONNA JACK

Support local journalism, and see all our articles every week! Subscribe to the News-Ledger. It’s only $20 per year within West Sacramento.

You can even try it for free for two months if you live in West Sacramento. Just send your name and mailing address to freetrial@news-ledger.com (offer open to new subscribers in West Sacramento ZIP codes 95691 & 95605).